2. The nations of the world will help the people of Israel to return, and those who come to live in the lord’s land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will themselves be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies.
3. In that wonderful day when the lord gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains,
4. you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say,“The mighty man has been destroyed.Yes, your insolence is ended.
5. For the lord has crushed your wicked powerand broken your evil rule.
6. You struck the people with endless blows of rageand held the nations in your angry gripwith unrelenting tyranny.
7. But finally the earth is at rest and quiet.Now it can sing again!
8. Even the trees of the forest—the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon—sing out this joyous song:‘Since you have been cut down,no one will come now to cut us down!’
9. “In the place of the dead there is excitementover your arrival.The spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long deadstand up to see you.
10. With one voice they all cry out,‘Now you are as weak as we are!
11. Your might and power were buried with you.The sound of the harp in your palace has ceased.Now maggots are your sheet,and worms your blanket.’
12. “How you are fallen from heaven,O shining star, son of the morning!You have been thrown down to the earth,you who destroyed the nations of the world.
13. For you said to yourself,‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.I will preside on the mountain of the godsfar away in the north.
14. I will climb to the highest heavensand be like the Most High.’
15. Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead,down to its lowest depths.